During an assessment, the nurse notices that a patient's left arm is swollen from the shoulder down to the fingers, with nonpitting brawny edema. The right arm is normal. The patient had a left-sided mastectomy 1 year ago
The nurse suspects which problem?
a.
Venous stasis
b.
Lymphedema
c.
Arteriosclerosis
d.
Deep-vein thrombosis
ANS: B
Lymphedema after breast cancer causes unilateral swelling and nonpitting brawny edema, with overlying skin indurated. It is caused by the removal of lymph nodes with breast surgery or damage to lymph nodes and channels with radiation therapy for breast cancer, and lymphedema can impede drainage of lymph. The other responses are not correct.
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The perinatal nurse is caring for a patient with preeclampsia. What intervention does the nurse include on this patient's care plan?
A. Administer magnesium sulfate per agency policy. B. Assess the patient's blood pressure every 6 hours. C. Encourage the patient to rest on her back. D. Notify the physician of urine output greater than 30 mL/hr.
The nurse anticipates that the patient will experience a decrease in cardiac output when data collection reveals a(n):
A) Order for the patient to receive digoxin B) Heart rate of 54 beats per minute C) Pulse oximetry reading of 98% D) Increase in preload related to ambulation in the hall
A patient with moderate heart failure begins taking a thiazide diuretic. The nurse will tell the patient to expect which outcome when taking this drug?
a. Improved exercise tolerance b. Increased cardiac output c. Prevention of cardiac remodeling d. Prolonged survival
Which belief by a nurse supports the highest degree of patient advocacy during a multidisciplinary patient care planning session?
a. All mental illnesses are culturally determined. b. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are cross-cultural disorders. c. Symptoms of mental disorders are constant from culture to culture. d. Some symptoms of mental disorders reflect a person's cultural patterns.